NBA news: Kyle Kuzma's strong message to Black Lives Matter supporters

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma delivered a strong message to supporters of the Black Lives Matter movement, as well as non-supporters.

Los Angeles Lakers forward Kyle Kuzma had a poignant statement for his fans and followers on Wednesday afternoon.

Kuzma suggested that any single person or business losing followers on social media or customers due to their support of the Black Lives Matter movement should hardly be discouraged.

Rather, Kuzma stated they must realize those people were not real and authentic in their character:

If you lose followers/friends/customers/clients by supporting this movement then you had shitty followers/friends/customers/clients in the first place.

— kuz (@kylekuzma) June 3, 2020

The last week has been filled with a wave of protests following the death of George Floyd in police custody last Monday in Minneapolis.

Floyd died after former officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for almost nine straight minutes, ignoring Floyd's complaints about an inability to breathe

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison elevated the charge against Chauvin to second-degree murder on Wednesday, per the Star Tribune.

The incident immediately sparked outrage from citizens around the United States. Protests and demonstrations have flooded the streets of major cities throughout the last week, with protestors demanding action against police brutality and racial injustice.

Kyle Kuzma is hardly alone in using his platform and voice to call for change. He is also not alone in decrying any followers who might oppose Black Lives Matter.

Houston Astros star third basemen Alex Bregman called for the Ku Klux Klan to be labeled a terrorist organization after President Trump used that designation against antifa, which is short for anti-fascist. He also responded to a comment by saying “I hope I lose them” with respect to any followers he may have lost after making the post.